Serological and Molecular Survey of Dengue Virus Among Febrile Patients Attending Public Health Facilities in Some Part of North East, Nigeria

Dengue infection places over 40% of the world’s population at direct risk. This was a cross-sectional study involving collection of socio-demographic and risk factors data via self-designed structured questionnaires. Also, blood samples were collected from 600 consenting febrile patients of different ages, in three selected Government public health facilities of Adamawa State. Furthermore, serum was screened for dengue antibodies by ELISA. Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR) was used to detect dengue virus serotypes. Data obtained was analyzed using SPSS version 20, Odds Ratios (OR) for associations between seroprevalence and all variables studied was determined. Of the 600 participants, 65% (390/600) were IgM positive for DENV infection with the highest prevalence obtained in Mubi (81.5%:163/200) and the lowest prevalence in Numan (52%:104/200). Higher insignificant prevalence was obtained in the males (66.8%:181/271) than females (63.6%:201/316). There was significant association of DENV antibodies, in terms of Tertiary education (χ² = 4.594, p=0.032; OR = 1.502; 95%CI= 1.050-2.151), among those who uses well water (p=0.023; OR=2.021, 95% CI 1.131-3.611), those who use traditional medicine for treatment of fever (p=0.014, OR=3.126; 95% CI=1.289-7.582), mosquito protection methods used against bite and those who never travel outside the state. Other risk factors studied were not significantly associated with DENV infection. DENV 1 and 4 serotypes were detected. The study reveals that low economic disadvantage and negligence could serve as predisposing factors to the DENV infection. Therefore, it identified potential virus reservoir which may likely spread in humans and cause epidemics.